BERLIN, August 8, 2008 (AFP) - Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Friday for an 'immediate stop' to all violence in South Ossetia.

'Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for prudence and moderation from all sides of the conflict in South Ossetia and for an immediate stop to all use of violence,' her government said in a statement.

'The government is in close agreement with its partners in the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and NATO in this respect.'

Germany heads a loose alliance known as the UN Group of Friends of the Secretary General which has been trying to cool tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi over Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian republic.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia in July to present a peace plan.